Ike Davis led the Mets in home runs with 33 and strikeouts with 141. / Brad Mills, US PRESSWIRE

by John Perrotto, Special USA TODAY Sports

by John Perrotto, Special USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets look like the ideal team to cash in their best trade chips and start to rebuild.

They have finished in fourth place in the National League East in each of the last four seasons, not winning more than 79 games in any of those years.

Furthermore, the franchise has been strapped for cash since owner Fred Wilpon reportedly lost $700 million in the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme, and general manager Sandy Alderson has been unable to pursue premium free agents to bolster the roster.

The Mets play in the nation's largest market, and fans in New York have no patience for rebuilding. There have been plenty of empty seats at Citi Field, where the All-Star Game will be held next season, and it would be even more difficult to sell tickets without stars to market.

So, the Mets quickly signed All-Star third baseman and the face of the franchise David Wright to an eight-year, $138 million extension. The Mets also are working to sign reigning National League Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey to a contract extension.

Dickey's contract is difficult to peg though since he's a 38-year-old knuckleballer who didn't find major league success until two years ago.

"We feel they are a very important part of our team and our franchise," Alderson says. "Given the fact that the rest of the club is very young and unproven, I think it's even more important that we have two quality veteran players on our roster."

Barring a major trade, it is doubtful the Mets will be making many headlines this winter beyond Wright and Dickey. The payroll will again be in the $100 million range, which precludes New York from signing a free agent such as Josh Hamilton to fill one of three holes in the outfield or adding a top-flight catcher.

The Mets and Jason Bay came to an agreement in which the left fielder was granted his release with part of the $21 million left on his four-year, $66 million contract being deferred. That move will have a negligible effect on the 2013 payroll, but the Mets will see left-hander Johan Santana's $24 million salary come off the books after next season.

"The uncertainty surrounding our franchise has been eliminated to a large extent," Alderson says. "There is no longer that distraction over our head, where people both inside and outside the organization are wondering about the possible future of the franchise. We're on solid ground."

The immediate future doesn't look overly bright for the Mets.

The lineup is young and lacks impact talent beyond Wright and slugging first baseman Ike Davis.

Right-hander Matt Harvey is expected to pitch his first full major league season in 2013, and top prospect Zack Wheeler almost certainly will join the rotation at some point during the year. Both have ace potential, but they figure to have a learning curve.

However, Alderson is pleased with the longer-term health of the franchise as he heads into his third season on the job.

"We've been able to build up a lot of pitching depth in our farm system, which I think is imperative," the general manager says. "I like the way a lot of our players from the 2011 draft class have performed and a lot of the 2012 class had good debuts, and we also have some promising players we've signed from Latin America.

"We have some good things going on in our farm system, though it will be a few more years before you see the results at the major league level."

***

Where the Mets stand at each position

Catcher

Josh Thole took a step backward last season, hitting .234 with one home run in 104 games. He profiles better as a backup, but the Mets have no one on their roster or in the upper levels of the farm system capable of being a No.1 catcher.

First base

Ike Davis' name is being bandied about in trade speculation, but it is going to be difficult for the Mets to deal a player coming off a 32-home run year, given that they have so many holes in their lineup. Though his critics point to his .227 batting average, Davis hit 11more homers than anyone else on the team last season.

Second base

Daniel Murphy is a workmanlike player who had moved all over the diamond in his career before finally settling in at second base last season. Playing one position seemed to agree with him: He hit .291 with six homers in 156 games.

Third base

David Wright bounced back in a big way from an injury-marred 2011 to hit .306 with 21 home runs, and he finished fourth in the National League with 6.7 wins above replacement (WAR). Wright is the face of the franchise and will be the face of the franchise for the next eight years.

Shortstop

Last year in his first full major league season, Ruben Tejada hit .289 in 114 games. However, he needs work on his offensive game, hitting one home run and drawing 27 walks against 73 strikeouts. Since Tejada is 23, time is on his side.

Left field

In a perfect world, Lucas Duda would play first base, where his big body (6-4, 255 pounds) and limited range are best suited. However, the Mets live in a world far from perfect, so Duda likely will play left field in 2013. Duda increased his home runs from 10 to 15 last season, but his batting average fell 53 points to .239, and he is recovering from a broken wrist suffered in the offseason while he was moving furniture.

Center field

Andres Torres was a huge disappointment last season after being acquired in an offseason trade with the San Francisco Giants, hitting .230 in 132 games. He will be challenged by Kirk Nieuwenhuis in spring training. Nieuwenhuis played in 91 games as a rookie and showed flashes of brilliance, though he hit .252 with seven homers and 98 strikeouts in 282 at-bats.

Right field

Mike Baxter is the presumptive starter, but upgrading at the position is one of the Mets' offseason priorities. Baxter, who grew up in Queens, 10 minutes from Citi Field, is more of a bench player.

Starters

R.A. Dickey became the first knuckleball pitcher to win the Cy Young Award by going 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA in 34 games in 2012. The 38-year-old is not a one-year wonder, as he has transformed his career by going 39-28 with a 2.95 ERA in 94 games during his three seasons with the Mets. Left-hander Johan Santana, who has won two Cy Young awards, threw the first no-hitter in Mets history last season after missing 2011 while recuperating from shoulder surgery. But overall he was 6-9 with a 4.85 ERA in 21 starts. However, Santana says his arm has felt good during his early offseason throwing sessions. Dickey and Santana can become free agents after next season, and the Mets are attempting to sign Dickey to a contract extension. Jon Niese quietly had a good 2012, going 13-9 with a 3.40 ERA in 30 starts, and he gives the Mets a good No. 3 starter. Dillon Gee (6-7, 4.10) is expected to be back to 100% by spring training after being limited to 17 starts last season before having surgery to remove a blood clot from his shoulder. Highly touted Matt Harvey went 3-5 with a 2.73 ERA in 10 starts as a rookie, and the Mets envision Harvey and top prospect Zack Wheeler eventually fronting their rotation for many years.

Bullpen

The Mets could have a number of relief spots open in spring training depending on what moves they make, but Bobby Parnell is set as the top setup man after having a fine 2012. He had a 2.49 ERA and seven saves in 74games and showed much better command of a fastball that can reach 100 mph. Left-hander Josh Edgin had a 4.56 ERA in 34 games and gave up five home runs in 25 2/3 innings as a rookie, but his 30 strikeouts opened some eyes.

Closer

Mercurial Frank Francisco converted 23 of 26 save opportunities in his first season with the Mets but also had a 5.53 ERA in 42 1/3 innings. Parnell looks ready to take over the role if Francisco implodes or the Mets decide to move him at the trade deadline. Jenrry Mejia has struggled with a 4.91 ERA in 55 major league innings, but he has great stuff and looks better suited to pitching in short bursts.

***

Prospects to watch

RHP Zack Wheeler: He figures to make his major league debut at some point next season after finishing this year at Class AAA Buffalo. Wheeler, acquired from the San Francisco Giants in a trade for Carlos Beltran in 2011, has the makings of an ace with a heavy fastball in the mid-90s, a big-breaking curveball and an improving changeup. At 22, he has a good feel for pitching.

RHP Jeurys Familia: His fastball regularly reaches the upper 90s, but the rest of his pitches have yet to catch up. Familia, 23, can struggle with his command, as evidenced by the nine walks he issued in 12 1/3 innings in his major league debut in September. Even if he doesn't make it as a starter, he has the arm to be a dominant late-innings relief pitcher.

IF Wilmer Flores: Flores, 21, hit .300 with 18 home runs between high-Class A St. Lucie (Fla.) and Class AA Binghamton (N.Y.) last season. He has some thump in his bat, but the question with Flores is his long-term position, as he has proved unable to handle shortstop on an everyday basis. The Mets tried him all over the infield in 2012, and he could become a super utility player.

SS Gavin Cecchini: The Mets' first-round draft pick this year as a high school player, Cecchini, 18, has advanced instincts for a young middle infielder. Speed is his calling card, and the Mets think it will give him a chance to be an outstanding defensive shortstop. His brother, Garin, is a third-base prospect with the Boston Red Sox.